Feb 5, 2010

When it comes to learning how to windsurf there is no doubt that "bigger is better" when it comes to your first day on the water. You will always find three measurements associated with windsurfing boards: LENGTH, WIDTH and VOLUME.

A windsurfing board's LENGTH is the least important stat of the three in today's shapes. However, one important aspect of length is that longer boards tend to go "straighter" more easily making them easier to head (or point) towards and desired destination point. If you are a beginner with OK balance or are somewhat athletic you may want to choose a beginner board that sacrifices a few centimetres of WIDTH for a slightly longer length.

The WIDER a beginner board the easier it is to balance on. The only down-side to width is an overly wide and super-short beginner board will tend to "drift" downwind as you sail. This makes it harder to steer back to you starting location. However, if you know your balance is bad than choose a super-wide board and you will have way more fun during your first few sessions... even if you have to walk back up the beach home!

Volume is important as it will tell you how easily a board floats on the water. When choosing a beginner board by volume make sure that the measurement is high enough to support your weight. Here is a chart to help you with this:

Here are some great beginner boards and the marketing info that comes with each. If you need more info please contact us at info@windsport.com and we'll help any way we can:

Bic Beach 175D and 225D

Beginner level windsurf boards have made considerable progress as regards their stability, and that for some time now, but are nevertheless frequently a bit fragile for the kind of intensive use they get. Responding to the needs of windsurf clubs, BIC Windsurf is launching a brand new range called the "Beach".

It's the result of an innovative mix of technologies already to be found on BIC surf boards and kayaks. The outer skin of polyethylene is the same as that used on BIC Sport kayaks with their proven strength. The internal construction borrows from the BIC ACS surf board with its massive knock-resistance. The shapes have been developed with maximum stability for beginners in mind but are still very manoeuvrable to help learn some progression moves.

Beach boards will therefore be very useful for windsurf schools looking for good, solid, modern and easy to learn on boards. The two models come with a retractable dagger board system that is very simple to tune.

Beach 225D:(Length:300, Width:90cm, Vol:225-l)

The most easily accessible of the Beach series. It will suit heavier weight beginners looking for a highly stable board for learning in good, strong conditions.

Beach 175D: (Length:285, Width:78cm, Vol:175-l)

The Beach 175D is a great compromise board for medium weight beginners. Quite long, it gives excellent glide in lighter winds but is still very manoeuvrable.

On a Nova, windsurfing is like child’s play ! These boards have been developed specifically for learning to windsurf and progressing. With their comfortable volumes and wide deck area, these are great boards for making your first runs and starting to have fun from day 1. The deck is covered in EVA foam for extra grip and comfort. Nova boards have a retractable dagger board (with the exception of the Nova 165), plus multiple footstrap positions, making them suitable for all levels of rider to enjoy strong wind conditions and start getting into funboard and jibing. Their relatively short length means they’re highly manoeuvrable, but still have great speed when the wind fills in and they start planing, giving you the excitement of full-on funboarding !

Nova 165: (Length:255, Width:82cm, Vol:165-l)

The Nova 165 is THE board you can learn on but also progress the furthest. Similar exceptional speed up to planing as the Techno 160, light as a feather and great for jibing. A single centre fin helps you progress from the daggerboard stage. A great board for all the family, one that all skill levels can enjoy.

Nova 170D: (Length:239, Width:90cm, Vol:170-l)

Stable and easy to ride, fitted with a dagger board, the Nova 170 D was designed for learning and progressing. Its short shape makes it simple to carve and jibe, even in light winds. When it gets properly up to planing, its compact design makes it an exciting funboard ride.

Nova 210D: (Length:265, Width:95cm, Vol:210-l)

The 210 D is destined for heavier riders and for schools who want stable, big volume boards. Fitted with a retractable dagger board. This board is also great for progressing, thanks to its relatively short length and footstrap position options. There’s not a better board for learning to windsurf!

The Cruiser concept is probably the most innovative boards ever offered. All carefully designed for the recreational market with soft, comfortable full EVA deckds and easy integrated transportation systems. (patented buit-in wheel). The Cruiser L & M are equipped with retracting daggerboards, and the smaller Cruiser Kids comes with a removable centerboard. Simply the ultimate kid's board.

Bridging the gap between wide and learning platforms and progressive short or longboards, makes the Match a reference of its own. The board is extremely stable, quick on the plane and jibes with ease thanks to the soft rounded off rails. With excellent speed and maneuverability, it is also a very competitive racing board with its related hybrid all-around performance.

At Fanatic we’re lucky to have a vast network of windsurfing schools to consult. This vital high feedback on beginner and family board demands helps us fast track your journey to a lifetime of windsurfing pleasure. Bucking the trend for short and wide boards, our advisors have heavily influenced the Vipers’ mix of modern concepts and proven shapes. Thinner outline and finely tuned CAD stretched power rocker curves guarantee a long waterline - essential for stealthy sub-planing performance and joyous first-time planing experiences. A daggerboard system vastly increases light air motion, and upwind pointing while adding crucial stability when cruising.

With plenty of footstrap positions to choose from and the help of our tuning kit, the Viper switches to an exciting Funboard for more advanced riders. A custom foam insert seals-off the deck and underside. Add a 50cm Freeride GFK fin and in seconds you’re ready to fly. Available in four sizes, 70, 75, 80 and 85cm wide all featuring High Resistance Skin (HRS) and Softdeck construction

The Fanatic Ride rig is perfect for all Windsurfers who want to keep it simple. Delivered complete with all components in a handy bag and for a very competitive price opening up a new world of fun and freedom!

AST is the construction that makes our Beginner Boards very affordable, yet robust and resistant to the wear and tear of everyday family or rental scenarios. A stable, fun and rewarding trainer board.

The focus of this board is to get anyone to enjoy the windsurfing feeling fast and allow the rider to improve into the future on the same board. Learning to get in the straps, jibe, trim upwind or race downwind. A balanced board for beginners that can also be turned into one of the most used boards in the quiver of advanced riders. Not to forget the Stand Up Paddle assets of this stable platform.

A wide & short fin helps first time water starts in shallow sections while still maintaining enough fin area once you are planing. Additionaly, the all new fully retractable Allgaier® dagger board brings the best of both worlds. You can choose to either have it hidden away, tucked inside the board while riding around, or have it down for first time riders or for trimming upwind on the lighter wind days. Having the daggeboard down maximizes stability while learning to uphaul.

The board features a full EVA deck. Added foam thickness in the nose area keeps the board safe from potential boom front and mast hits. A harder and denser EVA around the whole perimeter of the board helps keeping the rails looking like new after a full season.

We added a carry & pulling strap at the tail, in addition to the handle at the nose, making it even easier to carry the board in and out of the water.

DEVELOPMENT TEAM: Much of the input and feedback for the Goya Beginner Series comes right from Francisco’s family. In the end, it was Luna, his daughter, who was asking him to produce a board they could all have fun on. Big enough for both of them. Or all of them. Now, with both kids growing up, and especially Teo, the younger brother, picking up momentum, more and more thought and helpful little features have found their way into this great recreational board.

The Funsters combine the performance of a freerider with the easy handling of a beginner board. They are excellent beginner and family boards. But advanced riders will also have fun on them.

All the Funsters have comfortable EVA decks and many footstrap plug options. This allows you to slowly move from an easy cruising setup, to a blasting stance out on the board’s rail. They all come with indestructible, detachable glasfibre noseprotectors.

The 205 and 180 are perfect beginner boards. Within only a few hours everybody will be sailing back and forth, and will quickly reach the thrill of planing.

The 145 and 160 have a wide range of use: From beginner boards for kids and light-weights to sporty cruisers for more advanced riders.

Funster 145 - Length:258 , Width:75 , Vol:145

Funster 165 - Length:258 , Width:80 , Vol:165

Funster 180 - Length:258 , Width:91 , Vol:180

Funster 205 - Length:260 , Width:101 , Vol:205

SHAPE DETAILS:

Short and wide, not just in the middle but also in the nose and tail, along with an even volume distribution makes them stable along the length and width axis. This gives the rider confidence and helps to quickly.

Flat bottom curve gives a long water line for good non-planing speed and upwind performance.

Simple and proven dagger board system for stability and easy going upwind.

Mast track is centered and very close to the dagger board, making the board react quickly to rig and foot steering.

For beginners to advanced freeriders; Fun from the moment you step on; Planing in very light winds; Ultimate ease; Very stable; Easy tracking in non-planing conditions; Effortless rig and foot steering; Easy to learn footstrap technique; Perfect to experience the real fun in windsurfing; planing–as fast as possible; Great family boards!

The new extended Kailua line sets the standard for modern beginner boards, stable, durable, and easy to handle, the Kailua range is also hard to outgrow. This ultimate school board range is both the ideal choice for beginner level sailors of all weights and an excellent introduction to the world of planing. The classic Kailua 230 (pictured far left) and 180 have retractable daggerboards to facilitate sailing at it's most basic level. The Kailua 160 and 140 (pictured immediate left) feature a short twin fin setup that adds stability and maneuverability, letting intermediate sailors experience planing without the more demanding feel of a big single fin. The Kailua Jr. 120 extends the same versatility to kids boards, taking junior sailors from their first steps on a windsurfer to riding in footstraps and harness. The all new Kailua XR combines the wide Kailua concept with a longer outline for classic gliding performance. This makes it the industries foremost modern beginner board, and a fun alternative for any sailor in lightwind spots.

The new Easy Ride boards 2010 represent the perfect set to equip any school and center around the world. 3 perfectly matching shapes proportionally conceived in order to correspond to the different weights and sailors level.

All the Easyride give you the right feeling of security through staibility and soft touch under your feet. The short length and the wide ouline allow to use a small sail to stir the board wherever you want even after 10 minutes of riding. They are a result of a long research and development process in making windsurfing easy for everyone!

Technology: EPS/HD Glass/Wood sandwich skin on stepping area with a combination of Glass fibres laminated in Single Shot moulding process. Deck covered with Softskin™.

Feature-packed with smart ideas and offering the sport's latest shape in the entry-level segment, the Starts make learning to windsurf and planing in the straps easier than ever.

The original Start from 1999 was the board that changed windsurfing from a difficult sport to learn into a sport that you could learn in just 60 minutes. Many of its features continue in today's Start:

• Super wide shape: therefore ultra-stable.

• Full EVA deck: makes the Start comfortable and fun to ride on.

• Convenient carry handles

• Beginner footstrap positions

Other features are new, with each new generation of Start boards over the last eight years bringing in new ideas and evolving the concept to continue to make windsurfing easier and easier to learn and teach.

Ultra-stable and also fun

• More glide thanks to longer shapes with a low, slender rocker that makes getting on to the plane smooth and easy.

• Early planing: the extra-wide tail of the new Starts allows them to plane early and easy. The quicker you get planing, the quicker you get hooked.

Smart deck design

• Contour deck: Normally, a deck is mostly curved towards the outside edges. This means that the strap positions need to be out on the edges to be comfortable, but then getting into the footstraps is very difficult. If the straps are positioned closer to the board's centre line, the deck will be flat and uncomfortable. With Starboard's Contour Deck, specially shaped recess makes the deck comfortable when the straps are positioned inboard. This makes it easy and natural but also comfortable use the more advanced footstrap positions.

• The extra thick rail section in the middle of the board adds extra stability. The deck is totally flat in the area where entry level sailors will walk around the first hours onboard.

• Colour coded deck: different colours on the deck indicates both ideal foot positions and sail positions: for uphauling, for medium-power-zone and for more-power-zone. Makes learning and teaching much simpler.

Smart details

•The third generation Clipperbox system is the easiest and most functional daggerboard system ever. Its clip system is super smooth and easy to operate, it's totally sand-proof, strong and reliable.

•The rubber lips on the bottom are back-plated with L-shaped plastic strips. This totally prevents any water from gushing through the daggerboard case when the daggerboard is retracted and board is planing. For the first time, you can feel the efficiency of a non-daggerboard board in a board with a daggerboard system, so learning to plane becomes easier than ever.

•The new Clipperbox daggerboard 570 also features a stronger handle fitting and a new rake angle that is less upright than before, providing a more forgiving and directional ride. Molded in a more flexible plastic, the new daggerboard is lighter and provides more lift making the board livelier upwind.

Bridging the gap between planing boards and lightwind longboards, blurring the line between stable entry level boards and progressive freeride boards, the Rio is the board that covers the widest scope of users in all wind conditions: windsurfing for everyone, every time and everywhere.

Its long and wide shape provides plenty of stability for even the most nervous beginners, and also a fast, smooth glide in light winds. For advanced riders, the longer, narrower shape combined with the inboard heel-recesses and a soft daggerboard allows the board to power upwind off the leeward rail.

As the wind speed increases, the Rio's unique wide tail derived from Formula racing boards provides the early planing, the high speeds and the high performance racing fun that have made it a best seller in the all-wind windsurfing category.

The Rio's unique features:

•Contour Deck: makes it easy for everyone to progress into the straps, and easy to rail upwind for advanced windsurfers.

•Clipperbox daggerboard: the easiest and most functional daggerboard system. The clip system makes it smooth and easy to operate. Totally sand-proof, strong and reliable

•Rigid rubber lips: back-plated with L-shaped plastic strips, this unique system prevents any water from gushing through the daggerboard case when the daggerboard is retracted: easier to plane, and faster planing speeds.

•A wide and long shape, with a wide tail: stable at slow speeds, fast to glide and transitions smoothly from non-planing to planing.

The standard Rio with its full EVA deck remains the same as the 2009 model. For 2010, two new technology options are introduced.

The new Starboard Rio Sport:

The lighter, high performance version of the Rio all-wind windsurf board. With Starboard's exclusive Star Touch deck finish, the EVA deck is replaced with a layer of textured PU clear that gives the deck a smooth, non-abrasive coating that grips when wet. Unlike traditional non-slip coatings, the Star Touch deck won't irritate or cut your skin.

Ideal for windsurfers looking for a lighter first-buy board and windsurfing centres who want a more UV resistant finish than EVA soft deck.

The new Rio ARMOUR TECH:

Built in the World's toughest board construction, the Rio Armour Tech is lighter and even tougher than polypropylene boards.

When school is in session, be sure to come prepared with this board- Time tested shapes that bring a smile to all faces. Learning is easy and the Cool Rider lets you do it in style! The perfect balance of width and volume distribution make each of the 3 sizes very comfortable to sail. The dagger board setup can be easily added or removed giving versatility to beginners and intermediates. Center strap configuration makes sailing a breeze. The Dual Deck Shape combines a full rail with the comfort of a rounded deck giving the rider a great platform to learn on.